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Our Best Organizing Tips, Ever

Those innumerable containers of leftovers in your freezer? We can help you sort them out. The mess on the bottom of the broom closet? We can get that cleaned up. The kids' jumbled workspace? Well, you get the idea.

Aug 31, 2012

Kristian Sekulic/Getty Images

Those innumerable containers of leftovers in your freezer? We can help you sort them out. The mess on the bottom of the broom closet? We can get that cleaned up. The kids' jumbled workspace? Well, you get the idea.

Kristian Sekulic/Getty Images

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Organize Everything.

After years of writing REDBOOK's Semi-Organized column, we've learned more space-savers, tidy-up tips, and clues to cleanliness than we can count. The ones you're about to read are what stuck — the ultimate ways to fix trouble spots (kitchens, pantries, and linen closets, oh my), the key pieces you need to get clutter under control, and clever ways to use items you likely already own. Try them, and savor a renewed sense of calm, and the sensation that you magically have more times on your hands for the fun stuff.

Philip Friedman/Studio D

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Clean up the kitchen!

Clear counters make us drunk with happiness, so we found fail-safe ways to organize the key stuff (and hide the rest).

Philip Friedman/Studio D

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Use a stainless-steel rack to dry items you won't put in the dish-washer.

It looks sleeker and lasts longer than wood or plastic. Then, ditch the soap bottles by the sink and fill one automated dispenser with detergent that's easy on skin, says kitchen designer Susan Serra. (She likes Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid). Her other tip: Cut down on germs by moving the sponge to a holder away from the faucet stream.

Philip Friedman/Studio D

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Find more prep space!

A stove-side lazy Susan is perfect for the usual suspects, like salt, pepper, and oil. Other counter-space-worthy items include your most-used spoons and spatulas (throw them in an old vase — or even a coffee can). If you're slicing and dicing constantly, keep knives on a mounted magnetic board; it's much more streamlined than a wooden block. Then fold those towels and pot holders and store in a nearby drawer.

Philip Friedman/Studio D

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Use it or move it.

"If you reach for an item a few times a week, it belongs on the counter," says Serra. "Everything else goes in a cabinet." If you're like us and need caffeine in the a.m., put the coffeemaker and a tray with grinds and sugar in an easy-access spot, and push your second-most-used gadget further back. If you have a corner, tuck your all-the-time items there to avoid wasted space.

Kat Teutsch

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Make over your freezer!

Start fresh. First, take everything out. If it looks like Antarctica in there, unplug your fridge for a half hour; otherwise, just wet a sponge with hot water and scrub away sticky spots and ice crystals. Kinda smelly? Wipe the sides and bottom with a mix of baking soda and water. When you put your food back in, don't cover the vent: Pros at Whirlpool and GE recommend leaving an inch or two of space in front of it to keep cold air flowing.

Store smartly. Glass containers with airtight tops are your most eco-friendly option for food storage — plus, you won't have to transfer contents to another container to nuke them. Plastic tubs and Ziploc bags are fine too, as long as they're freezer-safe. How will you know? For most brands, there's an icon on the bottom or it says so on the packaging.

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Make over your freezer!

Think in portions. You know you're not going to cook that entire raft of Costco chicken cutlets at once (and thawing and re-freezing food sucks out the flavor), so wrap pieces individually in foil or plastic wrap, then stick them in a container. The same goes for soups and sauces: Divvy them into realistic servings before freezing for better taste and quicker defrosting.

Save the date. Stop playing Will-this-kill-me? every time you take out leftovers. Keep a roll of masking tape and a Sharpie in a drawer near your refrigerator. Every time you freeze something, write down what it is on the tape (trust us, you won't remember if it's cod or halibut), along with the date, and stick it on. ER visit averted!

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Clean Out Your Pantry!

When we asked our office staff to find the pantry most in need of a serious overhaul, our creative director Holland Utley was first to raise her hand. Luckily, it wouldn't look like this for long.

First, we cleared the shelves and separated food into groups (baking goods, sauces, etc.). Then we threw out lots of expired stuff and packed a donation box with multiples (because nobody needs 10 unopened jars of olives). Finally, we helped her restock the smart way with these tips.

Put backups and big stuff on top.High up is the right spot for all your but-it's-on-sale Costco purchases.

Gemma Comas

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Clean Out Your Pantry!

Place jars and cans on tiered risers. This way, you can see what you've got (and the, cough, expiration dates, cough).

Dump out bags.Sacks of flour and sugar can be messy. The fix: clear canisters. (This is as Martha as we're gonna get.)

Spin a lazy Susan. Stop clawing your way to the back of the shelf to find the vanilla!

Gemma Comas

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Clean Out Your Pantry!

Create sections. First, label shelves. (The simple way is fine: Use colored tape and a Sharpie.) Then stick loose items in bins so your areas don't flow into each other.

Save space with vacuum-sealed bags.You'll get way more room by sucking the extra air out of quilts, blankets, and beach towels. But don't give the vacuum treatment to comforters or pillows — they won't fluff back up when you take them out.

Use bins for hotel minis, etc. Oh, don't look at us like that — we know you steal from hotel bathrooms too. Put your travel-size loot in one bin,and meds, first-aid stuff, and seasonal items in a few others.

Place dividers between piles of towels. Separate by bathroom (guests, kids, master). Tip: A rubber ducky makes it super-easy for your little ones to spot their stack.

Keep tablecloths wrinkle-free. Install towel rods on the door and hang your tablecloths so you won't have to iron out creases. There: One less thing to do before your next party.

Lara Robby/Studio D

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Clean up your medicine cabinet!

Do it for your own sanity (and a little bit for snooping guests). You'll feel satisfied every time you reach for the tweezers.

Your medicine cabinet should not be the vertical cousin of your junk drawer, right? To recover this valuable real estate, empty the shelves and separate your items into two groups: stuff you use every day, and things you used once a year ago and haven't touched since. Dust off your go-to's and put the rest in a bin in a closet (or the trash). Then...

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Clean up your medicine cabinet!

Divvy up shelves See that top tier? Give it to your guy. Then you get your own shelf, below, and the bottom one becomes Switzerland — a neutral home for shared basics like toothpaste, mouthwash, and floss.

Maximize space We love these ideas: Double your storage space with a riser; tack stick-on magnets to the back wall to hold clippers and tweezers; use a ring holder to store hair ties and bobby pins.

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Clean up your medicine cabinet!

Clean out your meds Your medicine cabinet is actually a lousy place to keep bottles of pills — the humidity from your shower could degrade them over time, says pharmacist Lonny Wilson, president of the National Community Pharmacists Association. So store just your vitals for the week. Ready to toss unused meds? Check disposemymeds.org for take-back programs, or stick them in a plastic bag with coffee grounds (so kids and pets don't get into them) and toss it in the trash.

Scrap the boxes Realistically, you won't use 1,000 Q-tips this month. So decant a few weeks' worth — along with Band-Aids and cotton balls — into plastic containers that won't make a mess if they crash into the sink.

Lara Robby/Studio D

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Put it on a pegboard!

Turns out, this humble piece of hardware is a multitasking miracle. Hang it in key spots and kill clutter forever.

First, some pegboard basics: You can buy them at any hardware store (check out lowes.com or homedepot.com to find ones online) and have them cut to whatever dimensions you need.

Then, make a frame the same length and width as your pegboard, using four thin strips of plywood (the hardware store can cut those too). This will give the hooks enough space in the back to poke through.

Lastly, mount the frame wherever you want it, drill the pegboard on top, and start organizing!

Lara Robby/Studio D

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In the pantry:

Get rid of your junk drawer — yeah, seriously — by putting your stuff where you can actually see it. Use one hook for anything with a hole (twine, scissors) and two for long objects (like a flashlight).

Group items by "zone": fix-it's up top, office-y stuff below.

A spray bottle of an allover cleanser lets you quickly nix messes; ditto a lint roller.

Attach binder clips to pads and clipboards so you can find your to-do list and receipts.

Hang bins for pins, tacks, and other itsy stuff.

Lara Robby/Studio D

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Inside the coat closet:

Imagine running late and knowing exactly where your umbrella is. That would be nice, right? This practical pegboard, hung inside the closet door, makes it easy to get out of the house — fast.

Put the kids' sweatshirts, scarves, etc., low. They need to be able to reach their stuff (and the dog's leash, for when it's time for them to walk him).

Assign hooks to everyone so your gloves and hats are always in the same spot.

Lara Robby/Studio D

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In the broom closet:

Brighten up this otherwise grim space by spray-painting the pegboard a fun color, says Boston-based designer Ana Donohue. Use paint with a semi- or high-gloss finish: It'll make it easier to wipe clean.

Add a clip to gloves to hold them in place and air them out. This will put an end to shoving your new manicure down moldy sleeves.

Stow extra sponges in a bucket, and hook it on.

Hang your most-used spray cleaners, so you can grab 'em quickly rather than endlessly hunting under the sink.

Lara Robby/Studio D

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In the kids' room:

Use it as a divider (the warring factions will thank you). Nail two-inch plywood strips along the edge of two pegboards to create space between them. Then, attach casters and employ it as a rolling wall.

Hang awards and certificates so kids have a personal brag board. U

se a ribbon to hold a whiteboard in place: no more "but Mom, you didn't remind me!"

A pencil bag with binder holes is a fab marker-organizer, and easy to grab on the go.

Philip Friedman/Studio D

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Simplify your kids' workspace.

Assign them each a different color bin so their homework doesn't get mixed up.

Philip Friedman/Studio D

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Paint a chalkboard accent wall.

Put it in your kid's room where he can draw, jot down reminders, and figure out that math problem you're only half sure you know the answer to.

Philip Friedman/Studio D

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Let 'em doodle with fabric markers.

Specifically, have them write their names on backpacks, cloth binders, and pencil cases, so they don't lose their stuff.

Philip Friedman/Studio D

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Set up individual baskets for everyone in the fam.

Fill them with their go-to items. These ones have a chalkboard label where you can write their names.

"Hang pockets by the door where kids can leave permission slips and other papers," suggests parenting and education expert Michele Borba, Ed.D.

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Teach your family to hang.

Fill a wall in your mudroom or hallway with hooks for your most-used coats, hats, and the like. Just imagine: no more piles on the floor. Crazy.

Philip Friedman/Studio D

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Easy mornings, all week.

Set out five days of outfits on Sunday night so the kids can just grab the day's pile and go.

Philip Friedman/Studio D

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Create a master calendar.

Write each family member's schedule in a different color on a fun decal so it's easy to see who has what going on.

Philip Friedman/Studio D

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It's snack time!

Pour cereal or raisins into snack-cups. They're the perfect serving size, and will save you from cleaning ancient crumbs from your kids' backpacks.

Philip Friedman/Studio D

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Stick a supercute label on it.

Because, let's be frank, the lost-and-found should be called the lost-and-gone-forever.

Philip Friedman/Studio D

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Security guaranteed.

Where has this duh-that-makes-sense lock been all our lives? With a WordLock padlock, they'll be more "What's my combo, Mom?" calls.

Philip Friedman/Studio D

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From CD rack to mail sorter.

Turns out, the slots that once held your En Vogue collection are perfect for organizing envelopes. All you have to do is: Stick on labels. (Post-it flat tabs ($3.49 at officedepot.com) will do the trick). Then arrange by type of mail, with slots for bills, invites, coupons, and letters. Or personalize it with family members' names, so you, your husband, and the kids can grab what's yours.

Philip Friedman/Studio D

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From hanger to ribbon tamer.

Know that pants hanger that your husband can't quite seem to keep his trousers on? Use it to Martha Stewart-ize your ribbons. We suggest: Grouping spools by shade. It makes it easier to find the best match for your wrapping paper. And for extra credit, tie a pair of scissors to the top of the hanger so you can snip and go.

Philip Friedman/Studio D

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From cookie sheet to boot dryer.

Get rid of the pile of slushy shoes by the door by repurposing an old cookie sheet. Just... Spray-paint it a pretty color. We went with this crisp blue, but use whatever goes with your entryway. Add rocks. You can scour a local beach — or cheat and buy 'em online. Got lots of trays? Paint them different colors and give everyone in the family their own.

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